Recipe

I am not sure whether this recipe comes from Armenia or Azerbaijan, and I don’t remember who gave it to me, but I know I can fall back on it at any time, and I always keep the ingredients at hand. Its subtle combination of flavors never fails to impress! As a side dish, it can be served with almost any entrée, although it seems to overshadow them all.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter

1 cup grated carrots

1/3 cup slivered almonds

Grated zest of 2 oranges

1/3 cup golden raisins

¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

1½ cups long grain rice

3 cups boiling chicken stock, canned broth, or water

Salt, to taste

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the carrots and stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in the almonds, orange zest, raisins, and turmeric, and continue to stir for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice and keep on stirring until the rice is well coated with the butter and takes on some color, 2 minutes.

2. Pour in the boiling stock in a steady stream and let boil for about 2 minutes. Add salt, reduce the heat to very low, cover tightly, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.

3. Fluff the rice with a fork, transfer to a serving platter, and stir gently before serving.